The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-06-02
A RAIDER IN DIXIE.
A Pennsylvania CaTalryman's Adventures While a
Prisoner OF War.

A Pennsylvania CaTalryman's Adventures While q
Prisoner OF War.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: have been
solicited by several of my old comrades to write
for THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE a sketch of adj
ventures which occurred in 1864, and Of which
j can say, "All Of this i saw, and part Of il
was"
After the raid Of Gen. Kautz from City Point,
cutting the Lynehburg & Danyille Railroad,
our Cavalry Division was doing infantry duty
at Bermuda Hundred, recruiting our horses,
that had been badly used up on the raid. One
morning my chum, Charley Hopkins, came to
me and, after a little chat, said, Bob Gen.
Butler wants you" Without delay we went
together 10 Gen. Buffers tent aud the upshot
Of our meeting was that Hopkins and myself
agreed 10 start that night 10 try 10 burn the
railroad bridge NJ Petersburg across the Apo
mattox. This was, i think, about the sth Of
June.
That evening we took leave Of such Of our
comrades as knew OF our going and started.
My parting with Capt Reynolds was sad in
deed, and the memory of il is still vivid.
While warmly pressing my hand, and with
tears rolling down his kindly face, he said, In
a voice smothered by his emotions, My boy |
am sorry TO see you go; l am afraid / viii
never, see you again" His fears were well
founded, though in a far different way from
what he meant. Before a month had passed a
rebel bullet cut short a noble life.
We received our final instructions from Gen.
Butler, took two days rations, our revolvers
aud knives, and went down the river 10 near
Fort Powhatan, where we landed and struck
out Through a combination Of adverse cir
cumstances, chiefly dark, rainy nights, our
enterprise failed, aud in trying TO get back 10
our own lines we were captured by squad OF
Prince George militia or bushwhackers. am
satisfied we would have been murdered by
them, but gave sign used by Odd Fellows IN
extremity. j saw ID answered by the leader Of
the party, who remarked that We doubtless de-
served death, but they were not the proper
ones TO indict IL, and they would take US TO
Gen. Wise, who be hoped would hang us. With
unusual kindness they only put one handcuh
on each of us, but we were united by short
chain, and SO coupled like dogswe were marched
into Petersburg.
In Petersburg we informed the authorities
that we had deserted from Norfolk, and in-
tended going south of Richmond across the
Blue Ridge and down tho kanawha 10 our
homes in Ohio. After n long examination by
Gems. Wise, bearing, Hampton and others we
were sent TO prison 10 pass the time till We
could be sent South
That night j saw n specimen "chivalry" in
the shape OF a drunken Lieutenant, dressed in
clothing doubtless stolen from some Union
prisoner He came into the hall and COM
Charley retorted by informing him that he was
a liar. This so enraged him that lac snatched
gun from one of the guards and swore he
would blow his - Abolition heart out.
Charley, who was fearless as a lion, faced him.
aud with a voice filled with scorn, grated be-
tween his set teeth, "Well, shoot, you --
coward!p The soldiers took the gun from him
and marched him off,
The next day we started TO Andersonville
nitao md
lt is impossible TO tell of my experience in the
different prisons where was confined-Ander-
sOnville, Savannah, Millen, Blackshear and
Florence, nor can i tell about Charley, as we
were separated soon after our capture and / lost
him. j had letter from him since the war;
He was a sailor, and had been wrecked on the
coast of Spain. Having been twice badly
wounded, he has very likely answered his last
rol-call. il so, he left no holder heart behind"
My memories Of prison life recall the raiders
Providence Spring, the food, the names Of
few companions in misery, and the different
prisons was in but cannot tell the time spent
at either. was in the first lot sent from Ander-
sonville 10 Savannah, and in the first lot sent to
Millen, where we had Presidential election,
giving Lincoln 4,7S0 votes and Mcclellan $50.
j escaped from prison once aud was out some
time but was recaptured by pack Of yellow
legged four-footed rebel soldiers and sent back.
Finally j was paroled at Florence, 5. c., and
delivered on board the u. S. 5. New York at
Charleston, s. c., Dec. Is, 1864 aud sent 90
Annapolis, Md, where in few days we were
clothed, paid and sent home At Parkersburg,
w. Va, missed the steamer for Pomeroy, o.,
and bad TO remain over night at hotel, but was
unable 10 get Up in the morning, and was sent
10 the hospital, where the Surgeon prescribed
roast beef, strong coffee, milk punch, and such
like light diet, and placed Debility from
starvation" on my descriptive list az The head
of nay bed. Being an odd Fellow and finding
me 10 be one, he made inquiry of me as TO
where j belonged, aud wrote 10 my lodge
Naomi, No. III, Pomeroy, O.--to inform my
wife that was there sick. it was the first news
she had Of me for eight months, during which
time she had m0urncd FOR me as dead. Ia one
hour after getting the word she was on a steam
boat coming 10 me, and arrived at the hospital
the next morning. She came in the room
where was, knowing me 10 be there, met me
face 10 face, and did not know me. The robust
young man Of lS5 pounds was reduced TO the
attenuated skeleton Of 80 pounds. We went
home that night. A oolored deck hand carried
me ashore, and my wife aud her sister helped
me into the house, which j did not leave Tor
many days. / returned 10 parole camp and
was sent 10 my regiment the last Of March,
/ but they were out with " Little Phil,p and did
not see them till the last OF Aprl.--ROBERI
y. McRAE Sergeant, Co. NJ, nth Pa Cav, St
Adams, w. Va.